The Chevrolet Volt has been battered and bruised over the course of the past six months. The vehicle has weathered an NHTSA investigation into fires, attacks from the members of the media, and production slowdowns. However, General Motors is now touting that the plug-in hybrid had its best sales ever during the month of March.

According to Bloomberg, over 2,000 Volts were sold during the month, surpassing the previous high of 1,529 units in December 2011. GM also claims that it sold over 100,000 vehicles during the month that have an EPA rating of 30 mpg or better. Rather conveniently, GM only cites the highway rating instead of the combined rating to reach that 100,000 figure -- the EPA combined rating takes into account both city and highway fuel economy and is closer to what most drivers will see in the real world.

"GM's strategic investments in four-cylinder and turbocharged engines, advanced transmissions and vehicle electrification have been very well timed," said Mark Reuss, president of GM North America. "Three years ago, about 16 percent of the vehicles GM sold achieved at least 30 mpg on the highway. Today, that number is about 40 percent, and we have more new fuel-economy leaders on the way."

Former President George H.W. Bush bought a new Chevy Volt for his son, Neil Bush

In other Volt news, former Republican President George H.W. Bush bought a Chevrolet Volt. Fox News reports that the former president bought his son, Neil Bush, a Volt for his birthday.

Absolutely not true for me. As owner of Volt #3371 with over 15,000 all electric miles and a 50 mi commute every work day, it works for me. On cold days below 40 degrees I drive about 35-40 on electric and 10-15 miles on gas. Today I drove 42 on electric. On warmer days I use no gas at all. The farthest I have gone on all electric is 54 miles. Last August I used no gas at all. Would have been the same for July too except for 2 trips to Maine.You should test drive one.

well I did misspell (or type) trauma but the fact remains, assumptions don't come close to proving things the same as years of data do. We will only see in retrospect a few years from now whether current battery powered vehicles are more or less prone to fire than current gen ICE vehicles.

Consider something else too. With electric vehicles you introduce a separate source of potential heat, degraded high current wiring and connectors from the battery pack to the engine.

But there is no such oil source which could satisfy american appetite for long. the consumption is just too big, and with developing countries increasing their consumption too, prices will inevitably go up, because domestic drillers will happilly sell to highest bidder

I agree. It has nothing to do with practicality. For some reason, Audi's are the best-selling luxury cars in the world, when they are more expensive, less reliable, and half poor fuel economy compared to virtually every model class from Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Lincoln and Cadillac.

What's practical about a $45,000 VW Golf that is the A4?

Nothing. But people keep buying the hell out of them. The AWD thing is a gimick, too. Most people will never take advantage of it, and I read awhile back that over 90% of Audi Quattro packages sold have the winter package declined, so they are driving year round with Summer or All-season tires at best. Any front or rear-wheel drive vehicle with Winter tires will outperform any AWD car with Summer or All-season tires in any task. Go ahead and ask anyone in Colorado, where the number of Subaru owners is the highest in the country, and almost all of them have high-quality all-seasons or winter tires. Many have studed/spiked tires, and the state requires you to carry tire chains in your vehicle at all times.

You could have a vastly superior BMW 3-series or Merc C-class for 30% less, without the poor fuel economy, crap ride quality and needless repair costs of AWD.

Don't even get me started on DSG transmissions...

Practical? When did that have anything to do with consumer decisions when buying a automobile. If everyone wanted a practical car, we'd all be driving a Focus or Mazda 3.

quote: For some reason, Audi's are the best-selling luxury cars in the world, when they are more expensive, less reliable, and half poor fuel economy compared to virtually every model class from Mercedes, BMW, Volvo, Lincoln and Cadillac.

Errr... I am pretty sure that

A. BMW sells more each year than AudiB. Lincoln is clearly an inferior car than most AudisC. Audi's are cheaper than Mercedes, BMW, Lincoln, or Cadillac in the US priced equal to equalD. Audi's have better fuel economy (typically) than the above brands.

B. Also note that in the US, the A4 bases ~33,000. Oh you mean the V6 powered S4 is in some way the same thing as a I5 powered VW Golf? Confused.

quote: The AWD thing is a gimick, too. Most people will never take advantage of it, and I read awhile back that over 90% of Audi Quattro packages sold have the winter package declined, so they are driving year round with Summer or All-season tires at best.

A. All Wheel Drive doesn't require Winter Tires. Winter requires Winter Tires.B. You mention Subaru. Subaru is the same boat. 100% of Subaru's are sold withou winter tires. Its not even an "option".

quote: Any front or rear-wheel drive vehicle with Winter tires will outperform any AWD car with Summer or All-season tires in any task.

A. What? No. Only during "winter" conditions.

quote: You could have a vastly superior BMW 3-series or Merc C-class for 30% less, without the poor fuel economy, crap ride quality and needless repair costs of AWD.

A. Current price of a BMW 335xi sedan is the same as S4. Current price of a BMW 328xi sedan is higher than most A4s. Oh and the EPA rated Fuel Economy is essentially the same.

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All in all, WTF. The article and all comments are not about any VW Group product. Or any BMW/Mercedes/German product. Or any luxury class product.

Why the hate friend? Own an Audi that had a big repair bill? Made to feel like less of a man by an Audi owner?

Maybe either address the article, address the comment, or address what is making you angry instead of all the misguided and completely unfounded hate.

Audis are relatively expensive. But they are

A. Cheaper in the US than most "luxury" carsB. Have the same fuel economy and feature setC. Sell in less numbers (US) than Mercedes, BMW, or Caddy (and Lexus)D. Share a limited amount of parts with VW group other brands (excluding the A3, which does share the same platform as the Golf)E. Reliability is just slightly worse than BMW (US) and Mercedes (US) according to most sources, though Mercedes has been getting marked better in the US

There's more Camry's sold than BMW's and Audi's entire lineup combined. Of course people buy mostly practical cars in the US! This is how we roll over here. There's not one luxury or sports car on the entire top 20 list of best selling cars in the US.

quote: But there is no such oil source which could satisfy american appetite for long.

I love how it has to be ALL OR NOTHING! If we increase our domestic supply we could decrease our imports relative to that amount. We would also revitalize a crippled industry. It would also lower the cost of gas at the pump, that's a fact, the competition would drive crude prices lower. Stop buying the hype and look at the facts. This Administration has crippled our energy production industry, killed off thousands of jobs, and is costing us more money.

quote: and with developing countries increasing their consumption too, prices will inevitably go up, because domestic drillers will happilly sell to highest bidder

WTF are you talking about? The cost of gas everywhere in the world is priced in US dollars. Oil is so high because our money is worth so much less with every passing quarter. Demand from developing countries isn't the only reason. And if we increased our domestic supply, we could buffer ourselves from these factors.

People don't "bid" on oil auction style anyway. Where do you get this stuff?

The point of the volt was to develop the technology for the volt 2, or whatever it'll be called. GM said long before tbe car was released and even before the bailouts it was never designed to make them money.

One could wonder wether that is a sound strategy for a company bleeding money as they did, but it's been their strategy from the start.

What i can't figure out though is all of the marketing around it. That i'm willing to attribute to the government takeovers though. Probably government not wanting to look bad in any way so they have to scream "look at how good it is!".

On a side note, nice to see ol' Bush in the news again. IMO more people could use a reminder what happened last time they voted republican (for the record; it got worse. No matter how bad obama is (pretty darn bad), it can always get worse).

quote: On a side note, nice to see ol' Bush in the news again. IMO more people could use a reminder what happened last time they voted republican (for the record; it got worse. No matter how bad obama is (pretty darn bad), it can always get worse).

What planet are you on? We don't need to worry about how bad things can get, we've been LIVING that since Obama took office. Are you trolling or serious?

The country started free-falling in 2006, when Democrats got their majority in Congress. That's what happens when you vote Democrat, things get worst.

Hah, no, you're trolling, like you always are, with the set in stone "republican" mindset. I tried discussing with you before, it is futile. You only hear what your republican masters have told you to hear.

I'd love to discuss my political mindset, the idea of compromise i have. Unfortunatly compromise is a word selectively forgotten in a US election year, and hardly remembered the rest of the time. Would it suprise you to know that i actually do support a republic as the only legitimate form of government outside of a oligarchy? That my country's form of government is actually a constitutional monarchy, which when you read it actually comes down to a republic? As well as having started out as a republic far before the US ever did?

For the very last time i shall entertain you and explain that i ment you should vote neither republican, nor democrat. I don't even trust ron paul since he's sided with the republicans, while last year he went at it independantly. Then he went back? I don't trust that one bit.

If you vote democrat next year, the 2013 federal budget will have a $1.8 trillion deficit. If you vote Republican, the budget will have a $2 trillion deficit. What is the logical conclusion? Cmon reclaimer, use that ol' dusty brain of yours.....

Bush left Obama with a $440 billion dollar deficit. Not great at all, but good grief, Obama tripled that in ONE YEAR. And you're saying Bush is an example of how bad things can get? What's the deficit now, TSS?

quote: If you vote democrat next year, the 2013 federal budget will have a $1.8 trillion deficit. If you vote Republican, the budget will have a $2 trillion deficit. What is the logical conclusion?

There's never been a single Republican Administration in the history of planet Earth who came anywhere NEAR deficits of that amount. What logical basis are you making such an assumption from?

quote: I'd love to discuss my political mindset, the idea of compromise i have. I don't even trust ron paul since he's sided with the republicans

Great sense of compromise there lol. So if you side with Republicans on something, you cannot trust them. The irony. Do you know what "compromise" even means?

By the way your spelling, punctuation, and grammar are far too poor for you to be coming off this smug and condescending. If you want to take the intellectual high ground, come at me with something higher than a 4'th grade writing level please.

Hey Ammohunt,Perhaps you live your live ON the Golf Course and not IN reality. If you had even a clue about how the Chevy Volt operates you would know that the car has NO real range. It drives the first 35 miles TOTALLY GAS FREE and if, at that point, you do not plug it back in a GAS generator keeps the car rolling for as long as you put gas in it, kind of like the 1955 Cadillac you must be driving! I have 2 Volts. One has gone 5300 miles so far on 8 gallons of gas. The other has gone 7400 miles on 42 gallons. The car is revolutionary and you compare it a golf cart. Your blog is insulting because it reflects that you have absolutely no knowledge of what you speak. Remember my comments when you are swiping your credit card at the gas station and the meter reads $100 for what I would expect is a gas hog that you drive. I drive basically GAS FREE!

1 - The Leaf, without changing the batteries, in the 2013 version now has 25 extra miles (on cold weather on something..)

2 - With the amount (tons and tons) of batteries R&D going on, I personally cannot believe we will end up, after 5-10 years having to buy the same batteries, either similar range and much cheaper or much bigger range... but yes, this is still kind of a gamble (though the amount of research makes it easier to believe).

3 - If some of the promised values hold up - 10 years - it is already a pretty diluted value which would mean, I personally would end up using more gas with my current car then the current price of those batteries.

So, still, of course you need to factor that in, but:A - it isn't that clear after how many years will you need to do that;B - what will the prices be by then;C - if you'll consider it an upgrade (i.e.: doubling the range) instead of just maintenance; in which case maybe you'd need to also factor in "part of a new car" ;)

There's been tons and tons of battery R&D going on for several decades, it generally takes more than 10 years to develop, mass produce and implement something significantly better.

I am fairly confident there is no chance at all that batteries will have 50% more capacity in 10 years let alone 100%, but even if they do, it could mean different heating or cooling requirements, different charger is needed... not just a drop in replacement pack.

There was some indication somewhere (I think someone mentioned in a EV event) that Nissan was trying to go that route - providing upgrade packs.

Also remember it shouldn't be so difficult as the car's battery is actually a bunch (near 200 if I remember correctly) smaller batteries - so there is not 1 massive battery with a very specific size and format to make.

I drive a 2004 Prius 130 miles a day round trip it has over a quarter if a million miles on it. Outside of normal maintenance i have put less than $1000 into it over the years. I used to be a GM guy i own three older GM vehicles currently and have owned several over the years things being as they are and based on past experiences with GM dealerships i will never ever buy another GM vehicle again even if they end up being the last vehicle manufacturer on the planet i will sooner walk.